Tony Holli

Opel Automobile GmbH (German pronunciation: [ˈoːpl̩]), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Group, a predecessor of Stellantis, from 2017 until 2021. Opel vehicles are sold in Britain under the Vauxhall brand. Some Opel vehicles were badge-engineered in Australia under the Holden brand until 2020 and in North America and China under the Buick, Saturn, and Cadillac brands.

Opel traces its roots to a sewing machine manufacturer founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main. The company began manufacturing bicycles in 1886 and produced its first automobile in 1899. With the Opel RAK program, the world's first rocket program, under the leadership of Fritz von Opel, the company played an important role in the history of aviation and spaceflight: Various land speed records were achieved, and the world's first rocket-powered flights were performed in 1928 and 1929. After listing on the stock market in 1929, General Motors took a majority stake in Opel and then full control in 1931, making the automaker a wholly owned subsidiary, establishing an American ownership of the German automaker for nearly 90 years.[1]

In March 2017, PSA agreed to acquire Opel, the English twin sister brand Vauxhall and the European auto lending business from General Motors for €2.2 billion, making the French automaker the second biggest in Europe, after Volkswagen.[8]

Opel is still headquartered in Rüsselsheim am Main. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes Opel-branded passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and vehicle parts; together with its English sister marque Vauxhall, they are present in over 60 countries around the world.[9]

History

1862–1898

The company was founded in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Germany, on 21 January 1862, by Adam Opel. In the beginning, Opel produced sewing machines. Opel[10] launched a new product in 1886: he began to sell high-wheel bicycles, also known as penny-farthings. Opel's two sons participated in high-wheel bicycle races, thus promoting this means of transportation. In 1888, production was relocated from a cowshed to a more spacious building in Rüsselsheim. The production of high-wheel bicycles soon exceeded the production of sewing machines.[11] At the time of Opel's death in 1895, he was the leader in both markets

In the early 1920s, Opel became the first German car manufacturer to incorporate a mass-production assembly line in the building of their automobiles. In 1924, they used their assembly line to produce a new open two-seater called the Laubfrosch (Tree frog). The Laubfrosch was finished exclusively in green lacquer. The car sold for an expensive 3,900 marks (expensive considering the less expensive manufacturing process), but by the 1930s, this type of vehicle would cost a mere 1,930 marks – due in part to the assembly line, but also due to the skyrocketing demand for cars. Adam Opel led the way for motorised transportation to become not just a means for the rich, but also a reliable way for people of all classes to travel.

Opel had a 37.5% market share in Germany and was also the country's largest automobile exporter in 1928. The "Regent" – Opel's first eight-cylinder car – was offered. The RAK 1 and RAK 2 rocket-propelled cars made sensational record-breaking runs.

Opel as a company and its co-owner Fritz von Opel, grand-son of Adam Opel, were instrumental in popularizing rockets as means of propulsion for vehicles and have an important place in the history of spaceflight and rocket technology. In the 1920s, Fritz von Opel initiated together with Max Valier, co-founder of the "Verein für Raumschiffahrt", the world's first rocket program, Opel-RAK, leading to speed records for automobiles, rail vehicles and the first manned rocket-powered flight in September of 1929.[17] Months earlier in 1928, one of his rocket-powered prototypes, the Opel RAK2, reached piloted by von Opel himself at the AVUS speedway in Berlin a record speed of 238 km/h, watched by 3000 spectators and world media, among them Fritz Lang, director of Metropolis and Woman in the Moon, world boxing champion Max Schmeling and many more sports and show business celebrities. A world record for rail vehicles was reached with RAK3 and a top speed of 256 km/h.[18] After these successes, von Opel piloted the world's first public rocket-powered flight using Opel RAK.1, a rocket plane designed by Julius Hatry.[19] World media reported on these efforts, including UNIVERSAL Newsreel of the US, causing as "Raketen-Rummel" or "Rocket Rumble" immense global public excitement, and in particular in Germany, where inter alia Wernher von Braun was highly influenced.[20]

Opel RAK became enthralled with liquid propulsion, building and testing them in the late 1920s in Rüsselsheim. According to Max Valier's account, Opel RAK rocket designer, Friedrich Wilhelm Sander launched two liquid-fuel rockets at Opel Rennbahn in Rüsselsheim on April 10 and April 12, 1929. These Opel RAK rockets have been the first European, and after Goddard the world's second, liquid-fuel rockets in history. In his book “Raketenfahrt” Valier describes the size of the rockets as of 21 cm in diameter and with a length of 74 cm, weighing 7 kg empty and 16 kg with fuel. The maximum thrust was 45 to 50 kp, with a total burning time of 132 seconds. These properties indicate a gas pressure pumping.

German auto industry recognition award for Gaston de Wolff[DE]

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Vauxhall and Opel ranges were rationalised into one consistent range across Europe.

By the 1970s, Opel had emerged as the stronger of GM's two European brands; Vauxhall was the third-best selling brand in Great Britain after the British Motor Corporation (later British Leyland) but made only a modest impact elsewhere. The two companies were direct competitors outside of each other's respective home markets, but mirroring US automaker Ford's decision to merge its British and German subsidiaries in the late 1960s, GM followed the same precedent. Opel and Vauxhall had loosely collaborated before, but serious efforts to merge the two companies' operations and product families into one did not start until the 1970s – which had Vauxhall's complete product line replaced by vehicles built on Opel-based platforms – the only exception to the rule being the Bedford CF panel van, the only solely Vauxhall design which was marketed as an Opel on the Continent. By the turn of the 1980s, the two brands were in effect, one and the same.

Opel Rekord E, mk.2 (1982–1986)

Opel's first turbocharged car was the Opel Rekord 2.3 TD, first shown at Geneva in March 1984.[27]

In the 1990s, Opel was considered to be GM's cash cow, with profit margins similar to that of Toyota. Opel's profit helped to offset GM's losses in North America and to fund GM's expansion into Asia.[28] 1999 was the last time when Opel was profitable for the full year for almost 20 years.[29]

Following the 2008 global financial crisis, on 10 September 2009, GM agreed to sell a 55% stake in Opel to the Magna group with the approval of the German government. The deal was later called off.[30]

With ongoing restructuring plans, Opel announced the closure of its Antwerp plant in Belgium by the end of 2010.[31]

In 2010, Opel announced that it would invest around €11 billion in the next five years.[32] €1 billion of that was designated solely for the development of innovative and fuel-saving engines and transmissions.[33]

On 29 February 2012, Opel announced the creation of a major alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen resulting in GM taking a 7% share of PSA, becoming PSA's second-largest shareholder after the Peugeot family. The alliance was intended to enable $2 billion per year of cost savings through platform sharing, common purchasing, and other economies of scale.[34] In December 2013, GM sold its 7% interest in PSA for £250 million, after plans of cost savings were not as successful.[35] Opel was said to be among Europe's most aggressive discounters in mass-market.[36] GM reported a 2016 loss of US$257 million from its European operations.[35] It is reported that GM has lost about US$20 billion in Europe since 1999.[37]

Opel's plant in Bochum closed in December 2014, after 52 years of activity, due to overcapacity.[38]

Opel withdrew from China, where it had a network of 22 dealers, in early 2015[39] after General Motors decided to withdraw its Chevrolet brand from Europe starting in 2016.[40]

2017–present

In March 2017, the PSA Group agreed to buy Opel, its English twin sister brand Vauxhall and their European auto lending business from General Motors for US$2.2 billion.[41][42] In return, General Motors will pay PSA US$3.2 billion for future European pension obligations and keep managing US$9.8 billion worth of plans for existing retirees. Furthermore, GM is responsible for paying about US$400 million annually for 15 years to fund the existing Great Britain and Germany pension plans.[41]

In June 2017, Michael Lohscheller, Opel's chief financial officer replaced Karl-Thomas Neumann as CEO.[43] The acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall was completed in August 2017.[5]

In the 2018 financial year, Opel achieved an operating income of €859 million. It was the first positive income since 1999.[44][45]

On 16 January 2021, Opel joins Stellantis following the merger of its Peugeot parent company PSA Group with Italian-American group Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

In September 2021, Stellantis appoints Uwe Hochgeschurtz in Opel's management [46] to replace Michael Lohscheller who left to Vinfast.[47]

First shown at Frankfurt in September 1979, the Ascona 400 was a homologation special sold only to make it eligible for rallying's Group 4 category.[9] The Ascona 400s were built at General Motors' plant in Antwerp. The 1980 world champion Walter Röhrl took the rally car to victory and won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in the 1982 season.

The car was developed by Opel alongside the Manta B 400 model which consisted of the same changes. Irmscher and Cosworth were hired as partners for the project, Cosworth to deliver a 16 valve double cam crossflow head for the engine, and Irmscher for the exterior and interior styling. Cosworth delivered the heads to Opel and Opel soon discovered a major mistake. The plan was to use the 2.0 litre engine block but this did not produce enough power. Time was running out and Opel badly needed to do something. Opel took the 2.0E block, installed forged pistons, different connecting-rods, and forged crankshaft with 85mm stroke. The result was a 2.4 litre engine. The 2.4 litre engine gave rise to some massive power outputs using the 16 valve head. The street versions of the 400 therefore came with 144 hp (107 kW) engines, using the Bosch fuel injection of the Manta GSi and GT/E series. However, in race trim they were delivered putting out 230 hp (172 kW), which could be improved further to 340 hp (254 kW), while still using normally aspirated engine components.

Irmscher delivered the rally trim for the exterior. Large and widened wings, light weight hood, front wings, rear boot lid and doors were also installed.

By 1984, the Audi Quattro appeared more powerful than ever and the Ascona 400 was rendered obsolete. But the Ascona 400 still has some remarkable records. The Ascona 400 was the last rear wheel drive rally car to win the drivers' world championship, ensuring its place in motorsports history.

This 1983 Opel Manta 400 is one of just 245 road-going examples built to homologate the car to FIA Group B regulations. Finished in rare Astro Silver with the Opel Blitz Logo interior trim, the Manta 400 also has the desirable Irmscher wide wheel-arch extensions – fitted to only 59 of the road-going cars – plus the later four-slot grille and three-piece spoiler. The car was fully restored in 2005-2006 by its second owner, using only OEM parts where components needed replacing. It has covered around 29,250 miles (47,063 km) from new, 3,000 miles of which are since the restoration. A remarkable homologation special in outstanding condition, this Opel Manta 400 is ready to bring the magic of 1980s Group B to an exciting weekend drive.

Imported new to Northern Ireland in early 1984 by Opel’s Manager of Sports Relations, Tony Fall, this Opel Manta 400 received a manufacturer-specification conversion to right-hand drive by main dealer, Pentlands. Type approval had already been granted for the model in right-hand drive, as Vauxhall-Opel had converted its own marketing car to this specification. The car’s first owner in Northern Ireland used the car sparingly on weekends and special occasions, covering just a few thousand miles per year up until 1990. At this point, the car was put into dry storage until 2005

The Opel’s second owner and long-time Manta enthusiast undertook a full restoration, which is documented with a photographic record, associated invoices for OEM parts, and two magazine articles on the rebuild. The body was stripped to bare metal, almost all other parts sandblasted and powder-coated to give the best possible finish, and the body repainted in the original Astro Silver – a colour used on only 12 of the road-going cars. The vendor – who is the third owner – notes only a few minor cosmetic imperfections: a footwear scuff to the driver’s door sill, some stone chips to the front valance and two pockmarks on the rear valance, and small marks on both door mirrors.

During the restoration the interior was left in its superb, original condition. There is minor wear present on the driver’s seat base bolster and some marking on the upper driver’s seat bolster, while the Opel Sport steering wheel has a lovely patina.

Under the bonnet is a Cosworth-developed 2.4-litre, fuel-injected twin-cam engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The powertrain was fully stripped down and rebuilt during the restoration, and the car also features the original Irmscher exhaust. During the vendor’s ownership, the car had a full inspection with consumables such as brake lines and fuel hoses replaced where needed, the service last year also included a fresh set of spark plugs. The MOT in January 2019 resulted in a clean pass with no advisories, attesting to the car’s excellent mechanical condition.

The tyres are only one year old having covered only 400 miles or so, while the spare is what was supplied with the car in 1983. Also included in the sale is a detachable fog light. The extensive history file for this Manta includes the original handbook, brochure and workshop manual, import and registration documentation, a full photographic record of the restoration, plus numerous magazine articles and copies of corporate communication from the period on the UK introduction of the model. This 1983 Opel Manta 400 is a superb example of a rare and intriguing homologation special, ready to impress at classic gatherings or enjoy on the open road as intended.

The Lotus Carlton (also called Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, Lotus Omega and Opel Lotus Omega) is a Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega A saloon upgraded by Lotus in order to be able to reach speeds up to 285 km/h (177 mph) with acceleration to equal contemporary sports cars. Like all Lotus vehicles, it was given a type designation—Type 104 in this case. The exterior changes were minimal with the addition of a rear spoiler, cooling vents on the bonnet, Lotus badges on the front wings and bootlid, a bodykit and considerably wider wheel arches distinguishing it from a standard Carlton/Omega.[2] The car was only sold in one colour, a shade of green called Imperial Green (similar to British Racing Green).

Performance modifications started with an upgraded engine, which was enhanced by Lotus from the standard Opel 3.0 L (2,969 cc) 24v straight six unit (used in the GSi). The engine was enlarged to a capacity of 3,615 cc (3.6 L).[3] Lotus then added two Garrett T25 turbochargers, which provide up to 0.7 bar (10 psi) of boost from about 1,500 rpm. The original distributor ignition system of the engine was replaced with a three-coil wasted spark system. The distributor drive was re-purposed as a water pump drive for the water-air intercooler circuit. The intercooler itself is manufactured by Behr and is capable of reducing the temperature of the compressed charge from 120 °C (248 °F) to 60 °C (140 °F).[4][5]

In addition to the aforementioned engine modifications, Lotus directed a number of engineering changes to the engine so that it would perform reliably with the higher power output. To cope with the higher cylinder pressures (about 95 bar (9,500 kPa)), the external webbing on the engine block was reinforced. The crankshaft was replaced as well; early development crankshafts were machined from billet steel in Italy, but the production units were forged by Opel and sent to Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler for machining. The cylinder head was left mostly the same as the 4 valves per cylinder from the donor car, although the combustion chamber was milled to reduce the static compression ratio to 8.2:1 (from 10.0:1). The engine was fitted with forged slipper pistons produced by Mahle. Piston connecting rods were replaced with new units made to an original Lotus design.[4]

The same ZF 6-speed manual transmission as fitted to a contemporary Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 was used to transfer power output to the rear wheels via a rear limited-slip differential shared with the V8 Holden Commodore.

Chassis, brakes, and steering

The multi-link suspension of the Omega, already praised by the automotive press, was modified by Lotus for better high-speed stability and improved handling dynamics. To combat the problem of significant camber change (seen with the car at high speed and when fully laden), the self-leveling suspension from the Opel Senator was fitted. Also borrowed from the Senator was the Servotronic power steering system, which provides full power assist at parking speeds, and reduces the power assist as the road speed increases. The Lotus engineers would have preferred using a rack and pinion steering arrangement, but cost and space constraints limited them to the worm-and-roller arrangement.[4]

Initial sketches for the wheels showed a split-rim composite design, but this was ultimately abandoned in favor of a monoblock wheel design, with cited concerns over the durability of the wheels in poor road conditions. The final design for the 17-inch wheels was manufactured by Ronal, along with wider tyres than those used on the Omega.[3] The Omega is fitted with Goodyear Eagle tyres. The tyre compound used is the same as that on the Esprit Turbo SE, with a combination of oils and low hysteresis. This allows for improved high-speed stability and better performance in wet conditions.[4]

The car is fitted with 12.9 in (328 mm) brake discs with four-piston AP calipers at the front and 11.8 in (300 mm) discs with two-piston calipers at the rear.

Specifications

Top speed +283 km/h (176 mph)

Acceleration 0-97 km/h (60 mph): 5.1 seconds

0-160 km/h (100 mph) : 11.1 sec.[11]

Peak power output 382 PS (281 kW; 377 hp) at 5,200 rpm

Peak torque 568 N⋅m (419 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm

Displacement 3,615 cc (3.6 L)

Engine type Twin-turbocharged Straight-6

Layout Longitudinal, Front-engine, rear-wheel drive

Transmission Six-speed ZF S6-40 manual

Weight 1,655 kg (3,649 lb)

Production 950 units

Price £48,000